Grommet



F. E. MGG'EE April 18, 1944.

GROMMET Filed Jan. 14, 1945 HEL-nais E 'MEEE Patented Apr. 18, 1944 UNI-TED STABS (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) Z Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a grommet on band for protecting the rifling bands of projectiles.

It is important that the rifiing band or bands of projectiles be thoroughly protected in handling and shipment since they are made of comparatively soft metal fabricated to precise dimensions to accurately take into the rifling of the gun. It is also important that the fastening for the band be secure, and at the same time easily applied and easily and quickly removed in the circumstances in which the projectiles are used.

To the end of providing such protection as I have mentioned my object is to provide a device that can be quickly and conveniently applied, and as expeditiously removed, and one that when applied cannot be accidently displaced, and in which the fastening devices are so located that they will be entirely out of the way and ina place where they will not interfere with the handling of the shell or interfere with an adjoining shell when several are arranged in juxtaposition,

Still another object is to produce an inexpensive grornmet and one that will be eilicient in use and one that can be used repeatedly.

The invention generally contemplates a band of metal of a width and length appropriate to the size of the projectile and padded so as to cushion the rifling band, and the provision of a tie that lies within the edges of the band, and the provision of one that can be quickly manipulated to apply and remove.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is an edge elevation of the grommet;

Figure 2, a front elevation; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a fragment of a shell and rifling band with the band portion of the grommet in section.

Reference being made to the drawing, I designates a circular band of steel or other suitable material with sucient stamina to fully protect the rifling band under all conditions incident to the handling of the projectile.

The length of the band will be such that when placed upon the projectile, of the caliber for which it is made, there will be left a gap or space between its ends, as at 2. arcuate and has slightly downturned peripheral edges or flanges 3, and is lined with a pad 4 of felt or fibrous material suitable for cushioning the rifiing band. When the band is applied it The band is slightly band 5, shown in Figure 3, seated in the grooves ofthe projectile material 7. The band I is so shaped that it will bear down forcefully upon the pad ll, and particularly at points adjacent to its edges and the edges 3 of the band will usually contact the material of the projectile, as shown.

The band is adapted for cooperation with the fastening means proper by the provision of oppositely disposed recesses 8, two of which are provided adjacent tc the ends of the band. The recesses have an entry and exit opening 9, and a circumferentially extending portion IU, the bottom of which forms a seat for the fastening or tie wire I I.

In forming the recesses, a tongue l2 results which is an important detail of the invention, since it serves to limitthe outward lateral movement of the tie wire and precludes the possibility of its being accidentally dislodged. The portion Il) of the recess is located a substantial distance within the marginal borders of the band, so that when the tie is in place, and its ends I3, beyond the loop Id, are underneath the flanges of the band they will be entirely out of the way.

The pad 6 is reduced in width for quite a little distance as shown in dotted lines Figure 2, so as not to interfere with the tie Wire, or the recesses 8, in the band ends. The means for securing the pad to the band may be of any suitable sort as for instance staples l5, which will be placed at suitable intervals throughout the circumference of the band,

The band, of a length made for the caliber of the projectile, providing for the gap between its ends, is slipped on the projectile and brought over the rifling band. The tie wire, which will be of proper length, and will preferably have the characteristic of permanent flexion, is threaded in the recesses 8, and looped or twisted upon itself as shown at I4, with suicient length of the wire left over to provide the long ends I3, which will be tucked behind the slightly downturned flange 3, at the outer portions of the band, and where they will be readily available for manipulation to release the band. This is accomplished by merely untwisting the tie when it can be readily removed from the recesses.

I claim:

1. A protector for rifling bands, comprising a transversely severed band having axially and circumf eren tially extending intersecting recesses adjacent its ends, the formation of the recesses resulting in a tongue on the outer perimeter of the band, tie wires threaded in said recesses bepresses the pad down snugly on the projectile 5f hind the tongues and twisted upon themselves to lock the band on the projectile, the tongues serving to limit the lateral movement of the tie wire.

2. A protector for rifiing bands, comprising a transversely severed band having axial and circumferential intersecting recesses adjacent its ends, the circumferential recesses being within the boundary of the edges of the band, tie Wires threaded in saidrecesses and twisted upon themy selves to secure the band on the projectile, the ends of the wire being bent in opposite directions and lying within the side edges of the band, and a cushioning pad on the inner side of the band, one end of said pad being reduced in width to lie within the edges of the band and beyond the tie wires. v

FRANCIS E. MCGEE. 

